Justin Luke Yianakis could face further charges in alleged Gunnedah fraud

Justin Luke Yianakis appeared in Tamworth Local Court yesterday for the first time since he was excused in August for medical treatment.

Police allege the 40-year-old scammed betting giants and a bank out of $3 million in Gunnedah.

Magistrate Julie Soars appeared surprised by the total 67 charges Yianakis faces.

"He's got a few matters here," she said. "Some of these are really enormous; this one has got 66 sequences."

DPP solicitor Cat McKay asked for an adjournment to hold a case in the new year to discuss issues that had arisen with the case.

The matter was a complex alleged fraud that involved a number of companies, one of which could result in further charges being laid, Miss McKay told the court.

"It's a matter where there is some complexity arising from the number of charges," she said.

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Police allege Yianakis attempted to defraud a bank of almost $3 million using fraudulent cheques.

Yianakis' defence solicitor Gary Johnston agreed to the adjournment to February.

Yianakis faces a slew of fraud-related charges including 35 for dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception; publishing false or misleading material to obtain an advantage; dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence; knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime; and dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

He is yet to enter pleas to the charges and his bail will continue.

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